Excavating-machine



f (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. R. KEITHLBY. EXGAYATING MACHINE;

No; 567,274. Patented Sept. 8, 186.,-

O... O. O. .....I...' I.

(N0 Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. R. KBITHLBY.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

' Patented Sept.8, 1896.

U W M W is ca Pnmuu'rum WASHINGTON 0 c (No ma i. 3 Sheefls-Sheet 3. H.R. KEITHLEY. BXGAV-ATING MAGHINE.

Patented'Se'pt. 8, 1896.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT KEITHLEY, OF BUFFALO, NEWV YORK.

EXCAVATlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,274, datedSeptember 8, 1896.

Application filed April 11, 1895. Renewed July 1, 1896. Serial No.597,785. (No model.)

-To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT R. KEITHLEY, of Buffalo, in the county ofErieand State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in. Excavating Machines; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of excavating-machines in which avertically-reciprocating cutter, spade, or plow is employed, wherebyperpendicular sections of the earth are successively cut or sliced fromthe end or side walls of 'a trench or ditch and elevated from the same.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of suchmachines in various particulars; and it consists in the mattershereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

lower toggle-arm in'top plan.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalelevation taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan View, with partsin section, of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a verticalsect-ion taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking toward the front. Fig.4 isa vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1, looking toward the rear.Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1, looking towardthe rear. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6 6 ofFig. 1, showing the cutter-shovel and the v Fig. 7 is a sectional detailof the shovel and connected parts. Fig. 8 is asectional detail of theadjusting device of the toggle.

Referring to said figures, A designates a boiler, and B an engine, bothof ordinary construction and mounted upon a portable frame or truck, thewheels of which run upon longitudinal track-rails C, laid along oppositesides of the trench or ditch to be excavated. In the preferredconstruction shown in the drawings the frame of the truck compriseslower side beams D D, upper side beams D I), upright beams D D D", and Dupper trans- "spade, or plow, and F an upright rack-bar,

which carries the cutter E at its lower end. The cutter E has a chiseledge and is preferably wedge shape in cross-section, having a straighttransverse cutting edge 6, side dressing edges e e, anda rearwardly andupwardly curved blade or share e adapted to turn the earth rearwardly asthe cutter penetrates the ground. The reciprocating rack or cutter bar Fis guided at its upper portion between the upper transverseconnecting-bars D and bears against and is guided at its lower frontportion by the lower connectingbar D. As preferablyconstructed, the saidrack-bar comprises a pair of upright parallel side bars and a series ofhorizontal tr'undles.

of a belt K, running around pulleys 76 7t, re-

spectively.

L is alever pivotally mounted at Z, projecting at its rear end adjacentto'the path of the reciprocating rack F and connected at its oppositeend by means of a suitable link Z with the reversing-lever Lvof theengine.

F is a vertically-arranged adjusting-screw mounted in a bracket f,carried by the upper end of the rack-bar F.

f is across bolt or stop mounted at the lower portion of the rack-bar Fand adapted when the latter is raised to engage and lift the end of thelever L. j

hen the actuating-wheel is driven fforwardly or in the proper directionto lower the cutter-bar, the latter continues to descend un-" til thelower end of the adjusting-screw F strikes the upper end of the lever Land by depressing the latter reverses the engine,

whereupon the actuating-wheel is driven in the opposite direction. Therack-bar is ele vated until the stop f raises the end of the lever L,and thus arrests the movement of the engine in that direction.Preferably the stop f will be arranged to simply stop the engine but notto entirely reverse it, and when it is desired to again lower the cutterthe reversal of the engine will be accomplished by an attendant.Obviously by adjusting the screw F up or down the depth to which thecutter is driven may be regulated at will.

Next describing the mechanism by which the loosened earth is scooped upand elevated from the trench, this is constructed and arranged asfollows:

The lower side bars D D are extended rearwardly and form the sidemembers of an extension of the wheeled truck frame, upon which ismounted an auxiliary movable frame I which depends within the trench andforms the support upon which the elevating devices are mounted. Saidframe is shown in the present instance as comprising vertical bars M M MM, which depend from each side of the truck-frame, and parallellongitudinally arranged side bars M M rigidly connected with the bars MM of the respective sides. The two sides of the frame thus formed areadjustably held parallel with each other and at a fixed distance apartby means of two pairs of right and left threaded studs or braces N N andN N entering inwardly from the ends of the horizontal bars M Mrespectively, and connected by turnbuckles n n.

N designates a transverse supporting bar or shaft extending through theupper ends of the bars M M and engaging at its ends with horizontalslots 01 71 formed in inner frametimbers N N, which are secured againstthe inner sides of the timbers D D. The bar N is provided with right andleft threaded portions a n where it extends through the ends of the barsM, and also with a squared portion 01 by means of which it may beturned.

N N designate short supporting-bars secured one to each of the upperends of the vertical bars M M, extending outwardly therefronf andthrough horizontal slots of, also formed in the frame-pieces N N N Ndesignate longitudinally-arranged adjusting-screws suitably mounted uponthe side timber D by means of screw-threaded bearings n n and havingswiveled connection with the end bearings of the shafts N N whereby thelatter and the shaft N may be adjusted within their respective slots 7 nand the entire frame supported by said shafts correspondingly adjustedlongitudinally upon the truck-frame.

O O designate shields or earth-supportin g plates secured to the outersides of the two depending auxiliary frames and adapted to prevent theloose earth and the sides of the trenchfrom falling into the latter.

Next describing the bucket or shovel and the mechanism for actuating thesame, R designates a shaft mounted transversely between the sides of theauxiliary frame by means of suitable bearings R R, secured to thelatter. Upon the shaft R is mounted a gearsegment S, with whichintermeshes a driving-pinion T, secured to a second shaft T, mountedupon the supporting frame-piece D.

T designates a drum secured upon the opposite or outer end of said shaftT, about which drum is coiled a driving-cable T secured at its oppositeends to a second drum T mounted upon the corresponding end of the shaftG.

U designates a toggle-arm mounted to oscillate upon the shaft R andpivotally connected at its lower end with the end of a second toggle-armU. The other end of the toggle-arm U is forked or provided with across-bar a and two parallel side bars uu, between the ends of which ashovel or bucket V is pivotally mounted. The pivot-studs of the bucket Vare located slightly back of the transverse median line of thereceptacle, so that when the latter is filled its front end will be theheavier. The bucket V is of scoop form, being provided with .a metalbottom having a sharp cutting front edge, sides, and arearwardly-inclined back end. Runners V V are also provided, whichextend rearwardly in continuation of the bottom plate of the bucket.

The toggle-arm U is mounted upon the shaft R close to the side of thegear-segment S, and the latter is provided with a radially-arranged ribor flange 3, located upon and extending at right angles outward from theside of said gear-segment and adapted as the latter is turned about itsaxis to engage and carry upward with it the toggle-arm U.

a is a projection secured to the rear side of the toggle-arm U andadapted, as the lat ter is carried upward, to engage with and preventthe toggle-arm U from pivoting backwardly beyond a position in alinementwith the arm U. In other words, when the armU has been carried upwardsufficiently to bring the toggle U in alinement therewith, theprojection a engages the rear lower side of the toggle-arm U and bypreventing further flexure of the toggle lifts the latter and the shovelmounted thereon bodily upward in an arc described by a radius equal tothe combined length of said toggle-arms.

In order that the scoop Vmay not tilt downwardly at its forward heavierend beyond a position with its bottom in alinement with the arm. U,aprojection'v is provided thereon, which is adapted to engage with a luga projecting downwardly from the arm U.

V designates a latch-bolt mounted longitudinally upon the under side ofthe togglearm U, comprising two telescopic sections, and is heldnormally extended by means of an expansion-springer), as clearlyindicated in the detail Fig. 7.

o indicates a toggle-link connected at one end to the projection'u andat its other end to the adjacent member of the latch-bolt, by means ofwhich the springv is brought under tension, so as to tend to project theforlengthened, so as to excavate trenches deeper shown.

ward member of the pin '0 and cause it to enter and engage a notch '0formedin the rear part of the shovel V, when the toggle is straightenedin its oscillatory movement.

In order that the toggle-arm U may be than that therein shown, said armis extended above its point of pivotal connection with the shaft R andslotted longitudinally, as Within this slot is arranged to slide abearing-block U by means of which the arm has pivotal connection withthe shaft R. U designates an adjusting-screw threaded through across-block a at the end of the arm U and having swiveled connection atits inner end with the said bearing-block U W is a wheeled conveyer orcar mounted to travel upon an elevated track structure W, supported fromthe main frame, the track-rails of which are inclined upwardly andrearwardly, so that a car will tend to run by gravity to the forward endof the structure. The forward or lower end of the track structure is solocated as to bring a car standing thereon in suitable position toreceive the earth carried upward and ejected from the shovel, aspresently to be described, the ends of the track-rails W being upturned,as shown, or other suitable stop provided to arrest the car when itarrives at the proper point.

In order that the car W may be automatically drawn to the rear end ofsaid track structure, a standard W is extended upward from this end,upon the upper end of which is mounted a guide-pulley W A second pulleyW provided with a plurality of grooves, is mounted upon the upper partof the upright standard D located in rear of the rack-bar F, and athirdguide-pulley W is mounted upon the cutter E or lower end of the rack-barF. W designates a cable secured to the rear end of the car WV andtrained from thence around the pulleys VV and V a plurality of times,the number of which is determined by the length of travel which the caris designed to have.

The car or conveyer may obviously be of any preferred form adapted todump or discharge the earth therefrom, that shown herein being similarto the mechanism illustrated and described in a prior pendingapplication filed January 24, 1895, Serial No. 536,007.

In the case of ditching for files, for which purpose the present machineis particularly well adapted, the sections of tiling will be placedwithin the trench immediately behind the machine and the earth dumpedback in to the trench upon the pile, as indicated in the drawings.

Means are provided for automatically moving the entire machine forward ashort distance upon each successive reciprocation of the cutter asfollows: X is a winding-shaft suitably mounted transversely upon theupright frame of the machine near the front side of the rack-bar F.Xdesignates a gearwheel loosely mounted upon said shaft X and adapted tointermesh with a series of trundles f provided in the lower part of thesaid rack-bar. X indicates a ratchet-wheel rigidly secured upon theshaft X adjacent to the gear X, which latter carries on its proximateside a pivoted pawl 00, adapted to act in one direction upon theratchet-wheel X X indicates a cable having one end secured to thewinding-shaft X, trained from thence down and around a guide-pulley Xmounted in the lower part of the frame, and from thence carried forwardbeneath the truck and suitably anchored to the forward end of thetrack-rails or otherwise. As thus arranged, it will be obvious that uponeach reciprocation of the rack-bar F the series of trundles f willengage the teeth of the gear X and turn the latter both in the upper anddownward movement of the bar. In the upward movement of the bar thegear-wheel will simply turn idly upon the shaft X, but in the downwardmovement the pawl 00 will engage the ratchet-wheel X positively anddrive the shaft in a direction to wind up the cable X In order that theshaft X maynot be turned back by the elasticity of the cable X when theseries of trundles of the rackbar has passed the gear and the latter isreleased, a second ratchet-wheel X is mounted upon the shaft X adjacentto one end thereof and a pawl 00 mounted upon the upright D and arrangedto engage said ratchet and prevent the shaft from turning backward.

The operation of the apparatus thus constructed is as follows: Assumingthe parts to be in the position shown in the drawings, with the cutterat the lowest limit of its movement and the engine reversed so as toelevate the same, the upward movement of the rack-bar, through itsengagement with the gear I-I, operates to wind the cable T upon the drumT thus unwinding it from the drum T and actuating the gear-segment Sr.As soon as the said segment S has been turned sufficiently to bring theflange s thereof into engagement with the rear side of the toggle-arm Uthe latter will be carried around therewith, thus serving to force theshovel or scoop V along the bottom of the trench, so as to slide beneaththe earth loosened by thelast downward movement of the cutter. As thescoop V is thus forced forward the rear end of the toggle-arm U will becarried upwardly by the arm U until the two have assumed a position inalinement with each other, whereupon the projection u of the arm U willengage with the rear under side of the togglearin U, thus holding thelatter in rigid alinement. The continued movement of the gearsegment Swill lift the scoop bodily upward until it assumes the positionindicated in dot- Y ted lines in the drawings, in which position itsload will fall by gravity into the car W.

Further movement of this segment in this direction will be arrested atthis point by the contact of the stop f of the rack-bar with the leverL, thus stopping or shutting off the engine. At the same time when thetoggle-arm U begins to lift the arm U the link 0 begins to compress thespring 02 of the pin 02 and would force the latter into the notch 12 ofthe scoop V were it not for the fact that the arm U is simultaneouslylifted upward, so that the end of the spring comes into contact with thesegmentalshaped surface 11 of the scoop and rides upwardly thereon. Thefurther straightening of the toggle-arms therefore serves merely toincrease the tension of the expansion-spring '0 upon the pin Vhemhoweventhe togglearms have assumed a straight position, the scoop V,by reason of the fact that it is pivoted back of its center, will firstbe tilted upward at its rear end until it assumes a position inalinement with the arm U, or in the same relation thereto as shown inthe drawings, the end of the spring-pressed pin V being caused to travelback over the segmental surface 11 and finally snap into the notch o.The latch-pin V serves to prevent the scoop from tilting over rearwardlywhen the latter is in its uppermost or dumping position. Then thetoggle-arms have reached a position in alinement with each other and thescoop has been tilted up into alinement with the arm U, the heel orprojection of the scoop comes into contact with the depending lug a ofthe arm U and prevents further tilting of the scoop.

It is to be noted that while the arc-shaped path traversed by the scoopin its upward movement crosses or extends into the path of thereciprocating cutter E the latter will at such times be elevatedsufficiently to avoid interference with the scoop.

The scoop having reached its uppermost position and been dumped, theengine is reversed and the cutter-bar started down. As the drum Tunwinds the cable T the scoop will by gravity return to its normallowermost position or that shown in the drawings.

During the first part of the downward movement of the rack-bar F therack-teeth f which are at this time in engagement with the gear X, willactuate the latter, thus moving forward the entire apparatus before thecutter reaches the earth. The continued downward movement of the latterwill therefore serve to slice off a fresh supply of the earth from thefront end of the trench.

As the cutter E rises the cable WV is alits rearmost position, where itis dumped in any suitable manner.

In case it is desired to adjust the apparatus for excavating a deepertrench the adj ustin gscrew F of the rack-bar is turned up sufficientlyto allow the cutter to enter the earth the desired distance before theengine is reversed. The toggle-arm U is next lengthened by means of theadj Listing-screw U so as to carry the scoop down to the new lower levelof the bottom of the trench. The lengthening of the toggle-arm U willobviously cause the scoop to swing upwardly upon a longer radius, and inorder that it may not interfere with and strike the front end of thetrench the entire elevating mechanism must be adjusted rearwardly. Thisis accomplished by means of the pair of adjusting-screws N N, which actupon the ends of the supporting shafts h By turning saidadjusting-screws in the proper direction the supporting-shafts M and Mare moved backwardly within the slots n 02 respectively, and the entiremechanism supported by said shafts adjusted correspondingly.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that an apparatusconstructed in accordance with my invention possesses many importantfeatures of improvement. By means of the mechanism described the scoopis given a most effective movement for properly dressing out the bottomof the trench and scooping up and elevating the loosened earth. Just atthat part of the movement of the shovel when it is cutting loose theearth at the bottom of the trench, which cannot be fully loosened by thevertically-reciprocating cutter, it is given a most powerful thrustingaction by the arrangement of' the toggles. The dumping of the scoop isalso effected in a most simple and direct manner.

It will be understood that various of the details described herein arenot essential.

For instance, in the drawings a steam-engine is shown for operating themachine, but obviously an electric motor or other motive power might besubstituted therefor.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with avertically-reciprocating spade or cutter, of avertically-movable bar, tothe lower end of which the cutter is attached, a motor for actuatingsaid bar, embracing a reversing-gear and means for actuating saidreversinggear, comprising vertically-separated stops on the bar, and amovable part which is located in position to be acted on by the stops,and which is connected with and actuates said reversing-gear,substantially as described. v

2. The combination with a vertically-reciprocating spade or cutter, ofavertically-movable bar supporting the same, a motor for actuating saidbar, provided with a reversing-gear, vertically-separated stops 011 thebar, of which the upper one is vertically adjustable to variably limitthe descent of the cutter and a movable part located in position forcontact with said stops, and connected with said reversing-gear,substantially as described.

3. The combination with a spade or cutter of a rack-bar, supporting thesame, a gearwheel engaging the rack-bar, a motor actuating thegear-wheel, said motor having a reversing-gear, vertically-separatedstops on the bar, and a movable part located in position for contactwith said stops and connected With the said reversing-gear,substantially as described.

4. An excavating apparatus comprising a movable frame, a motor mountedthereon and provided with a reversing-gear, a verticallymovable cutter,a rack-bar for supporting the same, mounted to slide vertically intheframe, a gear-Wheel engaging the rack-bar, said wheel being driven bythe motor, vertically-separated stops on the rack-bar, the upper one ofwhich is vertically adjustable, and a movable part located in the framein position for contact with said stops and having operative connectionwith the said reversing-gear, substantially as described.

5. An excavating apparatus embracing a bucket, an oscillatory jointedarm, the outer part of which is adapted to be flexed on the main part inone direction only from its position when extended in prolongation ofsaid main part, said bucket being pivoted to the outer part of the armand a spring-actuating locking device for holding the bucket fromturning on the outer part of the arm, said locking device comprisingmembers which are connected with the main and outer part of the arm ateither side of the joint in the same, whereby the lockin g device willbe automatically actuated by flexure of the arm, substantially asdescribed.

6. An excavating apparatus embracing a bucket, an oscillatory jointedarm adapted to be flexed in one direction only, said bucket beingpivoted to the arm, and a locking device for the bucket comprising abolt mounted on the outer part of the arm and connected with the innerpart of the arm by a spring connection and a notched plate on the bucketadapted for engagement with said bolt substantially as described.

7. An excavating apparatus embracing a bucket, an oscillatory jointedarm to which the bucket is pivoted and a locking device for the bucket,embracing a bolt mounted to slide on the outer part of the arm, saidbolt consisting of two endwise-movable parts connected bya spring, alink connecting the bolt with the inner part of the arm, and a notchedplate on the bucket adapted to engage the bolt, substantially asdescribed.

8. An excavating apparatus embracing a bucket, and an oscillatoryjointed arm to which the bucket is pivoted, said bucket be ing providedwith a rearwardly-projecting runner, substantially as described.

9. An excavating apparatus embracing a bucket, an oscillatory jointedarm to which the bucket is pivoted, and a locking device for holding thebucket from turning on the arm: said bucket being provided with arearwardly-projecting runner, substantially as described.

10. An excavating apparatus embracing a bucket, an oscillatory jointedarm, carrying the bucket, and arock-shaft,on which the arm is mounted,said arm being connected with the shaft bya bearing-block which isadjustable endwise on the arm to vary the length of the latter,substantially as described.

11. An excavating apparatus, embracing a bucket, an oscillatory jointedarm, carrying the bucket, a rock-shaft on which the arm is mounted, saidarm being provided with a longitudinal guide-slot a bearing-blockengaging the shaft and adapted to slide in said guide-slot, and anadjusting-screw engaging the arm and block for adjustably holding saidblock in place, substantially as described.

12. An excavating apparatus embracing a bucket, an oscillatory jointedarm carrying the bucket, arock-shaft on which the arm is looselymounted, a gear-segment attached to the shaft and provided with a stopor projection engaging the arm to move the same, and a gear-pinionactuating the said gearsegment, substantially as described.

13. An excavating apparatus embracing a bucket, an oscillatory jointedarm to which the bucket is pivoted, a locking device for holding thebucket from rotation on the arm, a rock shaft on which the arm isloosely mounted, a gear-segment attached to the shaft and provided witha stop or projection engaging the arm to move the same in lifting thebucket, substantially as described.

14.' The combination with a vertically-re-' ciprocating spade or cutter,of a bucket, an oscillatory jointed arm, carrying the bucket, arock-shaft on which said arm is mounted, and operative connectionbetween the spade and rock-shaft, by which said rock-shaft is turnedwhen the spade is moved vertically, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a vertically-reciprocating spade or cutter, ofa bucket, an oscillatory jointed arm, to the free end of which thebucket is pivoted, a locking device to hold the bucket from turning onthe arm, a rock-shaft on which the arm is mounted, and operativeconnection between the said spade and the rock-shaft, substantially asdescribed. 7

16. The combination with a vertically-reciprocating spade or cutter of averticallymovable rack-bar, a gear-Wheel engaging the rack-bar, foractuating the latter, a bucket, an oscillatory jointed arm to the freeend of which the bucket is pivoted, a rock-shaft on which the arm ismounted, and actuating connections between said gear-wheel and therock-shaft for actuating the said arm, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a vertically-reciprocating spade or cutter, ofa verticallymovable rack-bar, a gear-wheel which engages the rack-bar, abucket, an oscillatory ITO jointed arm carrying the bucket, a rock-shafton which the arm is mounted, a gear-segm ent attached to the rock-shaft,a gear-pinion engaging said segment, winding-drums attached to theshafts of said gear-wheel and gearpinion, and a cable wound about saiddrums, substantially as described.

18. The combination with a vertically-reciprocating spade or cutter, ofa verticallymovable rack-bar, a gear-wheel which engages the rack-bar, abucket, an oscillatory jointed arm carrying the bucket, a rock-shaft onwhich said arm is loosely mounted, a gearsegment rigidly attached to therock-shaft, and provided with a projection adapted to engage the arm, agear-pinion in mesh with the gear-segment, winding-drums on the shaftsof the gear-wheel and gear-pinion, and a cable wound about said drums,substantially as described.

19. The combination with a bucket, of an oscillatory jointed arm, towhich the bucket is pivoted, a locking device detachably engaging thebucket, an elevated track, extending to a point above the pivoted axisof the arm and a conveying-car resting on the track, substantially asdescribed.

20. The combination with a bucket, of an oscillatory jointed arm towhich the bucket is pivotally connected, a locking device detachablyengaging the bucket to hold it from turning, a track extending to apoint over the pivotal axis of the arm, said bucket having an inclinedrear wall, and a rearwardlyprojecting runner, substantially asdescribed.

21. The combination with a vertically-reciprocating spade or cutter, ofan earth-elevating device, track-rails extending from the elevatingdevice away from the same at an upward inclination, a conveyer-car onthe track-rails, a guide-pulley at the outer end of the rails,guide-pulleys on the cutter and machine-frame, and a rope attached tothe car and passing over said pulleys, substantially as described.

22. An excavating apparatus embracing a movable frame, avertically-reciprocating cutter, a vertically-movable bar supporting thecutter and mounted on the frame, an earth-- elevating bucket and anoscillatory jointed arm carrying the bucket and an auxiliary frame, inwhich said arm is mounted, said auxiliary frame being movable on themain frame toward and from the cutter, substantially as described.

23. An excavating apparatus embracing a movable frame, avertically-reciprocatin g cutter, an earth-elevating device,earthsupporting plates, attached to the frame and located at either sideof the elevating device, said plates being bodily movable laterally onthe frame and adjustable braces between the plates, substantially asdescribed.

24. An excavating apparatus embracing a movable frame, avertically-reciprocatin g cutter, a vertically-movable bar supportingthe same, an earth-elevating device, an auxiliary frame adj ustablyattached to the main frame for supporting said elevating device, andearth-supporting plates located at the outer sides of said auxiliaryframe, substantially as described.

25. An excavating apparatus embracing a movable frame,avertically-reciproeatin g cutter, a vertically-movable bar supportingthe same, an earth-elevating bucket, an oscillatory jointed arm carryingsaid bucket, a rockshaft on which said arm is mounted, an auxiliaryframe in which said rock-shaft is mounted, said auxiliary frame beingadjustably attached to the main frame and earthsupporting plates locatedat the outer faces of said auxiliary frame, said plates being adjustable toward and from each other, substantially as described.

26. The combination with a vertically-mo vable cutter and anearth-elevating device adjacent thereto, of earth-supporting plateslocated at opposite sides of the elevating device, horizontally arrangedframe-bars located at the inner faces of the plates to stiffen the same,and cross-braces located at the rear of the elevating device, and actingon each of the bars at two horizontally distant points, substantially asdescribed.

27. The combination with a mainframe of a vertically-movable cuttermounted thereon, an earth-elevating device adjacent thereto, embracing abucket, and an oscillatory jointed arm carrying the same,earth-supporting plates located at opposite sides of the elevatingdevice, horizontal frame-bars at the inner faces of the plates, avertical frame-bar engaging both horizontal bars near their rear ends,said bars being supported at their upper ends by attachment to the mainframe, and cross-braces extending between the ver tical frame-bars andbetween the rear ends of the horizontal frame-bars, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, this 8th day of April, A. D.1895.

HERBERT R. KElTllLEY.

WVitnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, ELLA R. DEAN.

